How much lettuce?

[kenny66]

they are called lebanese cucumber here-looks like a big pickle. They are relatively low acid. Red Faced Parrot Finches are addicted to them. I will take a photo and upload today. Sometime it takes a while, but ALL of my birds absolutely go crazy for them. A lot of breeders use them exclusively during the breeding season.

One more question: how do you feed them? In slices, or halves?
I have to look for them. I never fed cucumber because I always read they are not nutritious. If these are better I'd like to give it a try.

Here are the pics with a coz lettuce and lebanese cucumber-cut long ways to expose the seeds as shown-my birds definitely breed better with them- I have seen them for sale plenty of places in the US

[kenny66]

they are called lebanese cucumber here-looks like a big pickle. They are relatively low acid. Red Faced Parrot Finches are addicted to them. I will take a photo and upload today. Sometime it takes a while, but ALL of my birds absolutely go crazy for them. A lot of breeders use them exclusively during the breeding season.

One more question: how do you feed them? In slices, or halves?
I have to look for them. I never fed cucumber because I always read they are not nutritious. If these are better I'd like to give it a try.

Here are the pics with a coz lettuce and lebanese cucumber-cut long ways to expose the seeds as shown-my birds definitely breed better with them- I have seen them for sale plenty of places in the US

sorry I put the aviary one in by mistake

[dfcauley]

I rather give my birds lots of cucumber, chickweed and also dandelion.

I give my birds green leaf lettuce every day and chickweed about twice a week. I also give them cucumber daily, but have always been under the impression that cucumber has no nutritional benefits. But... my birds sure to LOVE it!

[Chichireeo]

They like the seedy part of the cucumber? I've been trimming off the center part.

[Ursula]

Thanks, Kenny! I will definitely try this.

By the way: have any of you ever tried feeding Kiwi fruits to finches? I bought organic kiwi the other day but haven't tried feeding them yet. I thought I'd put halves in. They are high in vitamin c. That can't be bad for them, can it?

[Ursula]

I rather give my birds lots of cucumber, chickweed and also dandelion.

I give my birds green leaf lettuce every day and chickweed about twice a week. I also give them cucumber daily, but have always been under the impression that cucumber has no nutritional benefits. But... my birds sure to LOVE it!

I saw them in your aviary, Donna, and meant to ask you but then forgot somehow. They sure did look eaten.

[kenny66]

Thanks, Kenny! I will definitely try this.

By the way: have any of you ever tried feeding Kiwi fruits to finches? I bought organic kiwi the other day but haven't tried feeding them yet. I thought I'd put halves in. They are high in vitamin c. That can't be bad for them, can it?

Mine have eaten them, although not as much as cucumber-you can also give them chinese cabbage-not sure what its called over there-we also know it as wambok

[dfcauley]

I rather give my birds lots of cucumber, chickweed and also dandelion.

I give my birds green leaf lettuce every day and chickweed about twice a week. I also give them cucumber daily, but have always been under the impression that cucumber has no nutritional benefits. But... my birds sure to LOVE it!

I saw them in your aviary, Donna, and meant to ask you but then forgot somehow. They sure did look eaten.

Yes... my birds can core out a cucumber in no time. They one you saw had only been in the aviary about two hours or so.
The waxbills love it more than any of them, but the gouldians certainly eat their share also. I usually try to grow them in the summer for the birds, but unfortunately have to purchase them this time of the year.

[monotwine]

My birds love cucumber - JUST GO NUTS for it. They don't take to any leafy veg unless I chop it up very finely and hide it in their veggie/egg mix. LOL the spoilt brats.

I also heard the cucumbers had not much to offer, but looked it up and I was surprised to find that yes along with the high water and electolyte content which can cause runny tummies it also contains:

• potassium
  unique anti-oxidants in good ratios
  high Vit K

The important thing with any feeding is to give a varied diet. All in moderation without exclusion.

[Ursula]

Ok, they'll get kiwi tomorrow and cucumber this weekend. It will certainly be easier to prepare compared to grating carrots or chopping zucchini. I think I'll try more "whole" veggie pieces in future, that will make feeding easier in the morning before i go to work.

Donna, maybe Prince&Donna will remember it and teach my birds to eat cucumber as well.

[dfcauley]

Donna, maybe Prince&Donna will remember it and teach my birds to eat cucumber as well.

I am sure they will go straight for the cucumber. I sliced it long ways as shown in the picture. Are they doing well and settled in?

[Ursula]

Donna, maybe Prince&Donna will remember it and teach my birds to eat cucumber as well.

I am sure they will go straight for the cucumber. I sliced it long ways as shown in the picture. Are they doing well and settled in?

They are doing great, Donna! "Donna" is getting prettier every day and is preening a lot. I'll take some more pictures in the next week or 2 and will post them.

[Jeff McKee]

I have Zebra's and Society finches.
- lettuce - most, but not all, eat it
- cucumber slices - almost everyone eats it, in short order only the skin remains (field & English)
- cucumber grated - almost everyone ignores
- other stuff, to date, has had limited success - I try whatever bits are in the house
- I don't present too much of anything
- lettuce was much more popular, prior to the introduction of cucumber

After a year of no little ones, I adjusted cages and diet. Larger cages and grouping of birds was much more successful. New seed. Added egg food. Added vegetables. Sometimes sprouted seed, particularly with the young ones (soft food). Added millet sprays (particularly important for young ones as the seeds are smaller and easier to eat). They all love hard boiled egg, but its very fussy to prepare and store. It could go bad, so... Half a dozen males and half a dozen females are producing the better part of 10 offspring a month. Thank goodness I found a bird distributor to take the over flow. It offsets my costs, which is nice.

Jeff